Want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar? Staging can help.
Staging is presenting your home in its best and most appealing light to
the majority
of home-buyers.

In theory, staging isn't hard or
costly, but in reality, many homeowners find it difficult because it's often
hard to see something objectively when we love it.

An easy way to see effectively
staged homes is to visit decorated models. Decorating a model is
expensive, but builders are willing to invest the cost because they
understand just how well a staged home sells. You too can profit
from this knowledge.

Basic Staging Rules

#1 - Clean. Your home must
sparkle! To achieve this level is often only feasible by hiring a
cleaning crew. In fact, having a cleaning service return weekly while
your house is for sale is probably a pretty good investment. Get your
windows professionally cleaned inside and out too.

#2 - Fix. Got a
dripping faucet or a cracked tile? These will send the wrong message
to potential buyers. Getting them fixed before you put your house on
the market is a smart idea.

#3 - Eliminate Clutter.
The "50% Rule" requires that you eliminate the clutter in your home by at
least half. This may be the hardest rule of all! We love our
clutter - - it reflects our memories, hobbies, and values. But it
doesn't sell homes! Clutter makes homes seem smaller and disorganized.
(Have you ever noticed that the really expensive stores seem to have an
expansive, clutter-free layout, while "cheap" stores are often a jumble of
merchandise?)
Even the ancient practice of Feng Shui has as a central focus the
elimination of clutter.

#4 - Executive Neutral.
Neutral colors sell. It's a fact. Try to convey an image of
quality and neutrality. Potential buyers walking through your home
want to imagine themselves as the owners. If you use styles or colors
they would never select, you've just turned them off. Staying
high-quality, but neutral is safest.

#5 - De-personalize. Remove
objects that your potential buyers won't be able to identify with. For
example, political and religious items may turn off whole groups of buyers,
because they cannot "imagine" your home as their home. Buying a home
is an emotional decision, and you want potential buyers to make an emotional
connection with your home by being able to "see" themselves in it.

The Test.

Wondering if something is acceptable staging? Visit a model home to
see if they do it. For example, can you leave your high-end, designer
toaster out on your kitchen counter? Nope! You won't find a
single toaster in the kitchens of model homes. Can you display an
artsy topiary tree on your kitchen counter? Yes. Model homes do!

Some Specifics.

"Curb
appeal." They say you can only make one "first impression," and people
usually form their first impression within 30 seconds. What potential
buyers see when they drive up to your house will be their first impression.
This is a good place to spend a little extra time and money. Plant
flowers, trim bushes, weed, pick up leaves, repaint your front door, replace
tarnished house numbers or a dented mailbox, get a brand-new neutral
doormat, park your old car somewhere else.

The
entrance. The first glimpse inside your home should give potential
buyers positive, uplifting feelings. Make your
entryway as light and bright as possible. Leave all the lights in the
house on. (Have you noticed that model homes do this?) Get rid
of all area rugs. (Even authentic, high-quality carpets should normally be
removed since they break up the expanse of floor space, making rooms look
smaller.) Limit your cooking to very plain foods so odors don't
linger. (No cabbage, garlic, or onions!) On the other hand,
freshly baked chocolate chip cookie smells are just fine! They evoke a
homey feeling for almost everyone.

Kitchen. Kitchens sell
homes, so the importance of making your kitchen appealing
can't be underestimated. Clean and de-clutter! Anything taking
up counter or floor space must go (the only exception would be the types of
designer touches seen in model homes). Anything displayed on the
refrigerator must go. If your cabinets are old,
consider resurfacing them. If your counter knobs are old or
out-of-date, replacing them can be a relatively inexpensive
"facelift." If your cabinets are wood, get a woodtone touchup stick from your home supply store
and fill in any nicks and scratches. Shelves and pantries must appear
orderly and very spacious. Potential buyers will be turned off by
kitchens that seem to have inadequate storage space. Put those extra items in your newly rented
storage unit or give them away!

Bathrooms. Again, clean
and de-clutter! You
absolutely must get rid of any mildew/mold. If you have a glass shower
door, squeegee it after every shower. A
mold-and-mildew remover and a soap scum remover can work wonders.
Glass cleaning products do a good job of cleaning windows and mirrors (but
be careful if you have brass fixtures since ammonia will cause these to
pit). Do not display any personal toiletry items! Remove all
deodorant, mouthwash, electric toothbrushes, etc. and put them in your
cabinet. (Model homes never, ever display such items!) Pick up
all bath mats and rugs. Keep your soap dishes pristine. If you have
bars of hand soap, they should look new. Get a new set of high-quality, neutral, fluffy
towels and display them. (Model homes always do this!)

Rest
of the House. Clean, repair, de-clutter, and de-personalize!
You're going for that Executive but neutral look, since almost everyone can
"see themselves" in a home like that.

Remove those knickknacks!

Remove enough items from your
closet so you can hang a garment without touching the garment next to it -
- this could be difficult. (Extra and out-of-season clothes go to
your newly rented storage unit.)

Take a hard look at your carpets.
Are they stained or worn? Replacing carpets is often an excellent
investment because it gives your home that "new" look that everyone wants.
(Buyers have notoriously poor imaginations, so replacing existing carpet with neutral
carpet is usually a much better idea than offering a "carpet allowance.")

Leave all the lights on (No
burned-out lightbulbs!)

Keep wastebaskets empty

If possible, send your pets to
stay with family or friends. As much as we love our pets, they can
be a major negative distraction to potential buyers.

Leave your home before potential
buyers arrive

Summary

Once you accept the challenge that
you're turning your home into a "model home" to sell at top dollar and in
record time, you've won half the battle. You'll be well rewarded for
your efforts!